CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Outreach (DO) received a report on evangelism and decided to voice its concerns about the report before taking action. The board met here Feb. 23-25.
"The most significant highlight of the meeting was the wrestling the board did with the evangelism strategy," said Dorothy Baumgartner, DO board chair. Baumgartner is chief administrative officer of Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, Wash.
Staff from several ELCA divisions prepared "Toward A Vision in Evangelism in the ELCA," a report to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to be held in August in Indianapolis. The report outlines the church's activities since 1991, when the churchwide assembly adopted a 10-year evangelism strategy called "A Telling Witness of God's Good News."
The DO board discussion focused on part two of the report, which included recommendations for "Sharing Faith in a New Century" -- ways to use what has been learned in the past decade to enhance the ELCA's evangelism efforts in the next decade.
"The underlying concern is ... whether we're talking about another program on evangelism or something that will help people in the congregation, in the pew, understand what evangelism is and be inspired to do evangelism," Baumgartner said.
"The board's concern is that the church not be about another strategy, program or methodology, but something that will affect real change," she said.
"Another concern with the document was that its language sounded very programmatic." Baumgartner added that the board was looking for more "invitational" language.
The report recommends that the 2001 assembly ask the ELCA presiding bishop to appoint a task group that will receive new or existing evangelism plans from "all ministries of this church" and prepare a report for the 2003 Churchwide Assembly.
James E. Byerly, board member, Richmond, Va., suggested asking voting members at the churchwide assembly to discuss what "evangelism" means to them.
Joseph E. McMahon, board member, Washington, D.C., said, beyond defining "evangelism," ask Lutherans to explore their roles as "evangelical people."
The board deferred any action on the evangelism report until the committee drafting it had a chance to hear and address the board's concerns.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
